Lucien stood before the snarling demon, a twisted beast of pure malice. Its dark aura crackled in the dim light, eyes burning with a fury that promised destruction. Yet, Lucien remained unimpressed, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Is that all you've got?" he mocked, tilting his head. "I expected more from a creature of darkness."
The demon roared in anger, lunging at him with razor-sharp claws. Lucien effortlessly sidestepped the attack, his movements graceful and precise. With a flick of his wrist, a glowing white sphere formed in his palm. The air vibrated with its power.
"Existence Disposal: White Light," Lucien declared, his voice calm yet absolute. He flicked his hand, sending the orb hurtling toward the demon. Upon impact, the sphere exploded into a blinding radiance, erasing the demon from existence. Not a single trace remained.
Metro watched in shock, his mind racing with questions. Who was this man?
Lucien turned to him with a lazy grin. "Well, that was fun. You must be Metro. Name's Lucien. Don't worry, I don't bite... much."
Metro narrowed his eyes, his distrust evident. Before he could respond, the sound of hurried footsteps interrupted them. Three figures entered the ruined house—Ryo, Kael, and Nova, Lucien's students.
Ryo, clearly frustrated, stormed toward Lucien. "Why did you leave us behind? We had no idea where you went! You can't just disappear like that!"
Lucien rolled his eyes. "Relax, Ryo. I had business to attend to."
Before the argument could escalate, Metro suddenly shouted, "Who the hell are you people?!" His voice carried frustration and confusion.
Kael stepped forward, his expression serious. "Metro, you're in trouble. Your father is after your life."
Metro's heart pounded in his chest. "What? My father? Why?"
Their words hung in the air, heavy with implication. But before Metro could ask more, the scene shifted to a dark, desolate castle.
Inside the silent halls, Caleb sat in an ornate chair, his back facing the vast window. He stared into the void, lost in thought. His sister's plan to capture Metro was risky, but it was the only way to appease Clader, Metro's father.
Suddenly, the room darkened, shadows twisting unnaturally. Caleb felt his blood run cold. He turned, his breath hitching as a towering figure materialized before him, holding a pulsating blue energy ball.
Caleb immediately dropped to one knee, his voice trembling. "M-My Lord... why the surprise visit?"
The figure stepped forward, his presence suffocating. It was Clader. His piercing eyes bore into Caleb's soul. "Have you captured my son?"
Caleb swallowed hard. "N-No, my Lord."
Clader chuckled darkly. "The demons are useless. I want Trayors released. Only he can bring true devastation."
Caleb's body trembled. "But my Lord, if you were to—"
Clader's expression turned deadly. "I could do it myself, but I'd destroy the entire world in the process. I won't go that far... yet."
He raised his hand, and Caleb gasped as his own limbs twisted against him. Pain exploded through his body as an invisible force gripped his throat. Then, with a mere flick of Clader's fingers, a deep gash tore through Caleb's shoulder. Blood spilled onto the cold floor.
"Find him," Clader commanded. "Or suffer the consequences."
From within the glowing blue orb, a voice snarled. It was Trayors, the demon king, trapped within. His voice boomed with fury. "Release me!"
Clader merely smirked before vanishing, the room instantly returning to its original state. Caleb collapsed, clutching his bleeding shoulder, breathing heavily.
Back at Metro's house, Lucien stood among the wreckage, surveying the destruction. With a wave of his hand, his revised magic began restoring the house to its former state. Wood and stone pieced themselves back together seamlessly.
His students, however, were more focused on Metro, who stood rigid, fists clenched.
Nova frowned. "Metro, what's wrong?"
Metro took a step back, shaking his head. "I hate this. I hate my life. Why does everything terrible always happen to me?!"
Silence followed. Ryo, Kael, and Nova exchanged glances, their previous curiosity replaced with sympathy.
Lucien sighed, crossing his arms. "Kid, life's a mess. But you can either let it break you, or you can fight back. What's it gonna be?"